African Energy Week 2025: Stronger, Louder, Global.

By Ajong Mbapndah L

Cape Town at the Center of the Energy World

The crisp Cape Town air hums with anticipation. Delegates pour into the Cape Town International Convention Centre, badges swinging, conversations spilling from corridors into buzzing cafés. The global energy industry is here — ministers, CEOs, investors, and entrepreneurs — converging for African Energy Week (AEW) 2025.

This year’s theme summed up as “Stronger, Louder, Global,” reflects both confidence and urgency. Africa is no longer content to be a backdrop in global energy dialogues. It is stepping forward, with a unified voice and a bold vision.

As NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, declared at the opening:

“Africa’s energy future will not be dictated in Brussels, Washington, or Beijing. It will be decided here, in Africa, by Africans, for Africans — with partners who respect our vision and our realities.”

A Continental Voice, A Global Platform

Over the past five years, AEW has transformed from a continental gathering into a global stage. Once overshadowed by international summits, it now rivals them — attracting OPEC ministers, G7 envoys, development financiers, and the world’s largest energy companies.

Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons for the Republic of Congo and former OPEC President, captured the mood:

“Africa has resources the world needs — oil, gas, renewables, critical minerals. But more importantly, Africa has people who deserve access to reliable, affordable energy. Our partnerships must deliver both investment and impact.”

That duality — being both a supplier to the world and a provider to its citizens — defines Africa’s energy debate.

The Just Transition, Africa’s Way

The numbers remain stark: more than 600 million Africans live without access to electricity. For leaders across the continent, the global push for rapid decarbonization must be balanced with the imperative of development.

Senegal’s Minister of EnergyBirame Souleye Diop , speaking during a high-level panel, framed it bluntly:

“The world talks of transition; Africa talks of transformation. For Senegal, gas is not just an export. It is a bridge to industrialization, jobs, and dignity. The global North cannot ask Africa to transition from nothing.”

That sentiment resonates across the continent. Africa insists on charting its own course — one that recognizes its right to exploit oil and gas while embracing renewables on its own terms.

Country Spotlights: Energy Stories Defining Africa’s Future

Angola: From Oil Giant to Diversified Energy Player

As Africa’s second-largest oil producer, Angola has long been a cornerstone of the continent’s hydrocarbon economy. But in recent years, Luanda has diversified, seeking to attract investment in gas monetization, solar, and downstream industries.

At AEW 2025, Angola’s delegation unveiled new investment opportunities under its National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG).

“Angola’s message is clear,” said a senior official. “We are open for business, not just in oil but in renewables, refining, and infrastructure. Angola at 50 years of independence is a story of resilience and reinvention.”

Nigeria: Africa’s Energy Powerhouse in Transition

Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, remains both a giant and a paradox: vast reserves, yet energy poverty at home. AEW 2025 gave Abuja a stage to showcase reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and ambitious gas-to-power projects.

A senior executive from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) said:

“Nigeria is committed to being a reliable global supplier, but our top priority is domestic energy security. Gas is our future — powering homes, industries, and exports.”

Nigeria also used AEW to court investors in renewables, unveiling partnerships on utility-scale solar projects in the north and off-grid solutions for rural communities.

Mozambique: Betting Big on Gas

Mozambique continues to make waves as one of Africa’s most promising LNG frontiers. Despite delays caused by security concerns in Cabo Delgado, projects like Rovuma LNG and Coral South FLNG are moving forward.

At AEW 2025, Mozambique’s delegation highlighted the role of gas in transforming the nation:

“LNG is not just for exports. It is about industrialization, fertilizers, and domestic power. Mozambique can become a regional hub for gas-based development.”

The presence of global majors — ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, and Eni — underscored investor confidence in Mozambique’s long-term potential.

Namibia: The New Frontier

If 2023 and 2024 were the years of discovery, 2025 is the year Namibia takes center stage. Massive offshore finds by TotalEnergies and Shell have positioned Namibia as the hottest new exploration play in Africa.

Namibia’s delegation drew packed rooms.

“Namibia is not just a story of oil discoveries. It is a story of building an energy future responsibly — balancing hydrocarbons with world-class investments in green hydrogen and renewables,”  a member of the delegation  said.

Global investors flocked to discussions about Namibia’s planned green hydrogen corridor, seen as a potential gamechanger for African renewable exports.

Senegal: Gas as a Bridge to Prosperity

With the first barrels from Sangomar and gas from GTA flowing in 2024, Senegal arrived at AEW 2025 with a new status: producer.

The Senegalese Minister of Energy stressed that energy revenues would be directed to national priorities:

“Gas is not the end goal. It is the means to power industries, create jobs, and provide energy access. Our citizens must feel the benefits directly.”

Senegal also positioned itself as a leader in regional cooperation, highlighting cross-border projects with Mauritania and ambitions to export LNG to Europe.

Deals, Diplomacy, and the AEW Effect

Beyond speeches and panels, AEW 2025 is about business. Delegates confirmed licensing rounds in Angola, Namibia, and Nigeria; multibillion-dollar LNG investment in Mozambique; and renewable energy financing commitments from Morocco to South Africa.

A European energy CEO put it plainly:

“You cannot talk about global energy without Africa. The growth, the resources, and the demand are all here. AEW has become the place where strategies are set.”

Diplomacy also featured heavily. Heads of state from Angola, Mozambique, and Ghana held bilateral meetings with international partners, while African ministers pressed for fairer financing terms from global lenders.

Looking Forward: Africa at the Head of the Table

By the closing gala, with delegates toasting under Cape Town’s Table Mountain, the message was clear: Africa’s voice in energy is no longer marginal. It is central.

As Itoua summarized:

“Stronger because we are united. Louder because we refuse to be ignored. Global because Africa’s energy future is the world’s future.”

And as Ayuk reminded the audience one last time:

“Africa will not apologize for using its resources to power its people. But Africa will also lead — in oil, in gas, in renewables, and in shaping the future of energy globally.”

African Energy Week 2025 was more than a conference. It was a declaration: Africa is here, stronger, louder, global.

*Culled from October Edition of PAV Magazine